Chargers fall to Ashland

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 9:30 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — The shots didn't fall when they need to for the Hillsdale College men's basketball team.Going cold from the floor in the second half, the Chargers were unable to get over the hump in a 64-56 loss to the Ashland University Eagles in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game Saturday at Jesse Philips Arena.Hillsdale (16-7, 12-7 GLIAC) held a seven-point lead early in the second half, but couldn't hang on. Ashland (10-12, 8-11 GLIAC) roared back, hitting 70 percent of its shots in the second half, including five 3-pointers to take control. Meanwhile, the Chargers made just 20 field goals on the day and shot 37 percent, their lowest shooting percentage since a Jan. 5 loss at Saginaw Valley State.The Eagles posted their first victory at Hillsdale since December 2007.A jumper by Nick Washburn and a free throw by Darius Ware gave Hillsdale a 32-25 lead early in the second half, but Ashland's hot shooting began to take over. A pair of free throws and a layup by Brook Turson midway through the half gave the Eagles a 43-40 lead.Brandon Pritzl hit a jumper with seven minutes remaining, lifting the Chargers into a 44-44 tie, but Ashland would outscore Hillsdale 20-12 down the stretch. The Eagles' lead would hover around six points for most of that time, but Hillsdale couldn't pull closer.Defense dominated the first half, as the Chargers held Ashland to 24 percent shooting. A 3-pointer by Washburn and a layup by Tim Dezelski gave Hillsdale a 15-10 lead midway through the half. The teams exchanged baskets over the next eight minutes until missiles by Tony Nelson and Anthony Manno staked the Chargers to a 27-21 halftime lead.Dezelski finished with 13 points and three steals to lead Hillsdale. Pritzl had 11 points and six rebounds, while Washburn added seven points and five rebounds.Turson recorded a double-double for Ashland with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Cole Krizancic scored 11 points, while Evan Yates had nine points and seven rebounds.The Chargers will play their final regular season home game Thursday against Malone University. The Pioneers defeated Hillsdale 79-58 in the teams' first meeting Jan. 24.Women's BasketballAshland 83, Hillsdale College 57The No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division II women's basketball was as good as advertised Saturday as the Ashland University Eagles defeated the Hillsdale College Chargers in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Jesse Philips Arena.Hillsdale (9-13, 6-13 GLIAC) stayed close with last year's national runner-up early on. A 3-pointer by Ashley Landherr gave the Chargers a 13-10 lead five minutes in, but Alyssa Miller quickly answered with a missile of her own. Ashland (25-1, 18-1 GLIAC) took over from the there, shooting 56 percent for the half and building a 50-30 lead by halftime.The Eagles gradually extended their lead throughout the second half. Miller hit a jumper with 7:40 remaining, giving Ashland its biggest lead at 80-39.Hillsdale answered with a 12-2 run later in the half, but the deficit was too much to overcome.Kayla Geffert scored 15 points to lead the Chargers. Kadie Lowery and Brooke Borowski each added nine points, while Landherr scored eight points. Angela Bisaro had six points and five rebounds while Megan Fogt and Sarah Theut both had four points and five rebounds.Three players hit the 20-point mark for Ashland. Taylor Woods led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Daiva Gerbec had 20 points and eight rebounds. Miller finished with 20 points and four assists.Hillsdale will host Malone University for another GLIAC game Thursday. The Pioneers defeated the Chargers 75-60 in the teams' first meeting Jan. 24.